SpaceX Just Launched a Mysterious Classified Mission for the U.S. Space Force—Here’s What We Know
This week, SpaceX launched USSF-153, a classified U.S. Space Force mission carrying a mysterious payload into orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
Micah Hanks
Micah Hanks is creator, co-founder, and Editor-in-Chief of The Debrief. He covers science, defense, and technology in his writing and podcasts, and you can find him at micahhanks.com and on X @MicahHanks.
A New Organism’s “Alien” Reproduction, Levitation and Dark Matter, and Genetic Evidence of an Ancient Killer
This week, scientists report the discovery of a microorganism resembling something from sci-fi, levitation tech in the search for dark matter, genetic clues to a medieval mystery, and more.
Astronomers Detected Three Mysterious “Glitches” in a Pulsar That Had Gone Silent for Years
Astronomers monitoring an unusual young neutron star report a stellar surprise after years of apparent silence.
Physicists Report Levitation Experiment That May Signal a Breakthrough in the Search for Mysterious Dark Matter
Scientists have used levitation to transform a tiny magnet into a detector that can sense some of nature’s faintest forces.
15,000-Year-Old Cave Discovery in Ireland Could Push Back Earliest Evidence of Humans on the Island by 5,000 Years
New archaeological discoveries in Ireland could push back the earliest human presence on the island by as much as 5,000 years.
Hidden in a Museum Collection for More Than a Century, Researchers Have Just Made a Bizarre New Discovery
Researchers reveal several new species of a bizarre ocean creature that were uncovered after being hidden for decades in museum collections.
What Caused Antarctica to Freeze Millions of Years Ago? New Clues Could Finally Solve This Longstanding Climate Mystery
New clues to the formation of our planet’s oldest and largest ice sheet could help resolve a longstanding enigma about the southernmost continent.
Conflict in the Final Frontier: The U.S. and China are Preparing for a New Era of Warfare in Space
This week we look at how the U.S., China, and other world powers are developing increasingly sophisticated military capabilities in space.
The Search for a “Second Earth,” a Magnetic “Clock” in Ancient Pottery, and Alien Life Lurking in Venus’s Clouds
This week, a major Roman telescope discovery could soon be on the horizon, along with other space, science, technology, and ancient stories in the news.
Ancient Inca Complex with Surprisingly Advanced Ventilation System Uncovered High in the Andes
High in the Andes, archaeologists working at an ancient pre-Hispanic settlement have uncovered evidence of sophisticated ancient technology.
One Confirmed Dead, At Least 15 Remain Missing After Major Flash Flood Strikes Grand Canyon National Park
Officials at Grand Canyon National Park say one visitor died and at least 15 are missing after a major flash flood over the weekend.
A Lost English “Ghost Village,” Long Hidden Beneath One of England’s Largest Reservoirs, Has Mysteriously Resurfaced
The remains of a “lost” English village hidden beneath the waters of an English reservoir for more than half a century have resurfaced.
Crisis in Cosmology Intensifies as Debate Over Whether the Universe Is Really Accelerating is Reignited
A cosmological controversy has been reignited over whether observations of supernovae support long-held ideas about the universe's expansion.
Lost for 6,000 Years, a Neolithic “Jigsaw Puzzle” Was Reassembled—Revealing a Massive Monument Hidden Across Ancient Sites in France
An archaeological mystery surrounds pieces of a lost neolithic monument hidden across ancient sites in France.
The Classified Roots of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: How a Spy Agency’s Secret Satellite Became a Space Observatory
NASA’s new premier space observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, has roots in one of America’s spy agencies.
“No One Has Seen Anything Like It Before”: Mystery Surrounds Ancient Stone Structure Unearthed in Scotland
Archaeologists report the baffling discovery of an unusual stone structure containing human remains near Dornoch in northern Scotland.
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Could Soon Unravel the Greatest Mysteries of the Cosmos—Here’s What to Expect
This week, NASA is preparing to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, its next flagship space observatory.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is Ready for Launch—Here’s How to Watch it Happen This Sunday
NASA is preparing the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope for launch, kicking off its mission to unlock the mysteries of dark energy.
2,500-Year-Old Mystery Surrounds a Larger-Than-Life Discovery Unearthed by Archaeologists in Turkey
Archaeologists have uncovered a massive discovery—and an all new mystery—at the site of an ancient lost city in western Turkey.
Paleontologists Uncover a Graveyard of Ancient Sea ‘Monsters’ in the Sands of Egypt’s Deserts
New research reveals the diversity of ancient shark communities that swam modern-day Egypt’s ancient oceans in the Late Cretaceous.
‘Little Red Dots’ Remain a Cosmic Mystery—and New Research Reveals They May Be Keeping a Very Big Secret
Little red dots have perplexed researchers since their discovery—and now we may be closer than ever to unraveling their mystery.
Yellowstone Has a 150-Year-Old Sonic Mystery—and Scientists Still Aren’t Sure What Causes It
Visitors to Yellowstone National Park have long reported unusual sounds that seem to center on the famous park’s largest lakes.
Mobile Hypersonic Spaceports, a Manhattan-sized “Ice Island,” and a Lost City Surfaces in Egypt
This week, a commercial space company reveals a game-changing new launch capability, satellites capture the formation of a Manhattan-sized "ice island," and much more.
Look: Satellites Capture Dramatic Moment a Manhattan-Sized Iceberg Broke Away from a Greenland Glacier
A massive chunk of Greenland’s Petermann Glacier has broken away, forming an iceberg the size of Manhattan in...
Scientists Have Uncovered Large Quantities of Hidden Hydrogen Beneath Australia—and It Could Lead to a Clean Energy Breakthrough
Researchers say an untapped source of clean energy has been hiding beneath Western Australian soil, where some of the world’s largest iron deposits could harbor an unexpected secret.
MIT Team Reverse-Engineers a Curious 2000-Year-Old Roman Technology to Create Modern Material That Heals Its Own Cracks
MIT researchers are reverse-engineering an ancient Roman technology to create an environmentally friendly modern building material that can heal itself.
Lost for 1800 Years, a Mysterious Altar Linked to an Ancient Roman Cult Resurfaces as Drought Drains Europe’s Rivers
An unexpected discovery by archaeologists has revealed an ancient cult object in the suddenly shallow waters of one of Europe’s longest rivers.
A New Discovery at Göbekli Tepe Could Reshape Our Understanding of One of the Ancient World’s Most Perplexing Sites
The enigmatic Neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, home to some of the world’s earliest advanced megalithic construction and sophisticated symbolic art, continues to surprise archaeologists.
Something Struck the Moon—and NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Just Found the Crater
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has captured the clearest images yet of a newly formed impact site on the Moon.
Mystery Russian “Space Hazard” Warning Forces U.S. Air Force Flight to Turn Back from Antarctica
This week, a USAF aircraft bound for Antarctica was forced to return to New Zealand after a warning of “potentially hazardous” space-related activity.
Scientists Just Analyzed More Than 100 UAP Videos Released by the Pentagon’s ‘PURSUE’ Program—This is What They Learned
An analysis of 112 Pentagon UAP videos reveals a new problem for scientists working to discern whether they display anomalous capabilities.
How a Mother’s Age Influences Her Offspring Remains a Genetic Mystery—These Tiny Aquatic Animals May Have Answers
Tiny aquatic animals are offering scientists a look at how information about maternal age is carried from one generation to its offspring.
Scientists Have a Plan to Detect Exotic Aliens, New Gamma Wave Glasses, and an Ancient Roman ‘Megastructure’ Resurfaces
In this week's stories from The Debrief, we look at how scientists have a plan that could help find alien life, and other science and technology stories in the news.
A Mile-Long Ancient Roman Engineering Marvel Has Suddenly Surfaced from Beneath This Famous Waterway
A mile-long ancient structure built by the Romans has surfaced from the shallow summer waters of Europe’s second-longest river.
Scientists Spot Dolphins Using Shells as Tools to Catch Fish, Further Challenging a Longtime Marker of Culture
Scientists observing dolphins in Australia just made a remarkable discovery: these lively aquatic mammals use tools to help them capture fish.
Something Sparked a Technological Revolution in China 146,000 Years Ago—Archaeologists Have Now Linked It to a Mysterious Extinct Human Species
During the harsh conditions in ice age China 146,000 years ago, a remarkable survival strategy was being developed by early humans.
Archaeologists Have Unearthed a Rare and Mysterious Runestone at an Ancient Site in the Faroe Islands
An ancient runestone has been discovered on the floor of a structure being excavated by archaeologists at Sondum on Sandoy.
A Mysterious 45,000-Year-Old Seafloor Discovery Reveals New Evidence Denisovans Were Extremely Large
Ancient human fossils dredged from the seafloor near Taiwan are providing new insights into the appearance—and the large size—of the mysterious Denisovans.
2026 Solar Eclipse Spectacular: These Images Captured the Most Incredible Moments, and an Unexpected Surprise
This week, the August 12 solar eclipse delivered a spectacular celestial showcase, producing striking imagery from around the world.
Look What NASA Caught Photobombing the August 2026 Solar Eclipse in This Striking New Image
During the August 2026 solar eclipse, a surprise cameo appearance by something in Earth’s orbit was captured in striking new images.
Secret Self-Healing Powers of the Brain Revealed in Landmark Study, Upending Past Thinking on Adult Brain’s Regenerative Abilities
Scientists reveal the adult brain possesses self-healing powers far greater than previously assumed, according to new research.
What Time is the Solar Eclipse on August 12? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
A total solar eclipse will be ocurring today (Wednesday, August 12, 2026). Here's what you need to know about where and how to see it.
Mysterious Ancient Inscriptions Decoded, a Phobos Photobomb, a New Time Crystal, and New Evidence of Neolithic Technology
This week, we look at archaeologists decoding mysterious stone inscriptions, a rare cosmic alignment over Mars, and more stories in the news.
James Webb Space Telescope Data Reveals a Previously Undiscovered ‘Gravitational Arc’ That Was Hidden in Plain Sight
A previously undiscovered candidate for a cosmic gravitational phenomenon has been uncovered, in a surprise discovery made from JWST observations.
Look: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Captures Striking New Images That Bring the ‘Lion Nebula’ Roaring to Life
Stunning new imagery of the distant celestial object NGC 2392, better known as the “Lion Nebula,” has been obtained by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
A Bizarre Dead Star’s Magnetic Field Has Revealed a Strange Surprise, Potentially Confirming a 90-Year-Old Theory
New research reveals a magnetar that appears to display a phenomenon first predicted almost a century ago, but never directly observed.
Look What NASA’s Perseverance Rover Just Spotted Vanishing Behind the Martian Moon Phobos
An extraordinary event recently occurred in the twilight skies above Mars, and it was all captured on camera by NASA’s Perseverance rover.
These Curious Ancient Greek Artifacts Have Extraterrestrial Origins—Why They Vanished 3000 Years Ago Remains a Mystery
New evidence suggests high-status individuals in ancient Greek society wore jewelry with origins that were literally out-of-this-world.
Mysterious Engravings on Rare 9,000-Year-Old Projectiles May Reveal a Forgotten Symbolic Tradition in Ancient Anatolia
A collection of unusual 9,000-year-old engraved projectiles reveal the existence of a mysterious ancient symbolic tradition.
This ‘Ancient’ Spacecraft Keeps Defying Death—But How Much Longer Will Its Extended Mission Last?
This week, engineers at NASA’s JPL succeeded in once again extending the lifespan of one of the space agency’s most iconic spacecraft.